Package opener



Oct. 18,1927. 1,646,348

. c. c. cRocKER PACKAGE OPENER Filed Ausl. 9. 1.926

` INVENTOR mmym ATTORNEY Patented Oct. 18, 192.7.

UNITED sTATEs CHARLES CONRAD CROCKER, OF NEWARK, NEW JERSEY, AS"SIGNOR OF SIDNEY J. WOLFF, 0F NEW YORK, N. Y.

- 1,646,348 PATENT oFEicE.

ONE-HALF TO PACKAGE OPENER.

Application filed August 9,1926. Serial N0. 128,208.

This invention relates to a device for opening packages of cigarettes, the general object of the invention being to provide a knife arranged to cut one edge of one end of each package so as to leave a lap at the end of the package which will cover the opening made by the cut, so that cigarettes can be taken fromlthe package andthen the flap pressed back into place to close the package and thus prevent the cigarettes remaining in the package from drying out. c,

Another object of the invention is to provide means which will position a package, placed in the device, under the knife, so that the package will be properly cut by the, knife when the knife is manipulated.

This invention also consists in certain other features of construction and in the combination and arrangement ofv the several parts, to 'be hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompaning drawings and specifically pointed out in the appended claims. In describing my invention in detail, ref- 'erance will be had to the accompanying drawings wherein like characters ydenote like or corresponding parts throughout the several views, and in Whichz Figure 1 is an elevation of t-he device.

Figure 2 is a `longitudinal sectional view thereof.

Figure 3 is a similar view, but taken at ri ht angles to Figure 2.

igure 4.-,is a-perspective view of a cigarette package after the same has been cut by the device.

As is well known, the approved manner of opening a package of cigarettes is to remove a small portion of one end of the package so that a. cigarette can be removed while the other cigarettes, or most of them, are covered by that portion of the `end which has not been removed. This not only acts t0 hold the cigarettes in the package, but also acts to keep the tobacco in the cigarettes from drying out. It is more or less difficult to open a. package in this way and then ity leaves a small openin throu h which air may enter and from whlch the cigarettes may fall out of the package when the package is carried in the pocket.

It is the object of my invention to provide means for facilitating the opening, in this manner, of the package, and also to leave a flap which can be pressed back into place and thus seal the package and prevent cigarettes from accidentally falling from the same.

In carrying out my invention, I provide a casing 1 which is formed with a base 2 and in which is arranged a knife 3 having its stem 4 passing through a guideway 5 arranged in the casing and through the top of the casing Where it is provided with a head 6. Springs V7, connected with the knife and with the guideway, act to hold the knife in raised position. The casing, at its point of junctiorr with the base, is provided'with a horizontal opening 8, the bottom of which is formed by the base and a slot 9 is formed in the base to receive the knife after the same y passes through the opening 8. A stop 10 is formedon the bottom wall of the opening 8 and said opening and stop are so formed that when a package of cigarettes such as shown at A is placed in the opening, it will be so positioned that when the knife is depressed, one end part of an end of the package will be severed from the sides and edge of the package to form a Hap a and an opening through which the "cigarettes can be taken from the package. The` Hap, when pressed back into place, will act to close the package. As shown, the knife is provided with a bev eled cutting edge 3 which is arranged to rst pierce the package a distance from one edge thereof and then out towards the edge in a shearingcut and without cutting the cigarettes. fter the hand is removed from the head 6, the spring 7 will raise the knife and its stem, so that the package ofv cigarettes can be withdrawn froml the device. I

Fromv the foregoing, it will be seen that I have provided simple and inexpensive means for opening a package of cigarettes in the approved manner and which leaves a Hap for enabling the package to be kept closed. The device can be usedon counters of stores selling cigarettes and in homes ofl cigarette users. It can also be used as an advertising medium by placing advertisements on the casing, as shown in Fi re l.

It is thought from t e foregoin description that the advanta es and nove features of my invention will` e readily apparent.

I desire it to be understood that I may make changes in the construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts, provided that such chan es fall wlthin the s cope of the appended c ann.

der the casing, a stop on t e base a slight distance in rear of the slot for positioning a package of cigarettes on the base with a portion of one end over the slot, a rvertically movable knife in the casing and adapted to pass through the opening into'the slot for cutting an end part of one end of the pack age to leave it flat, a stern connected with the knife and projecting from the top of the casi-ng and a spring for normally holding the knife in raised position.

In testimony whereof I aix my signature.

CHARLES CONRAD CROCKER. 

